NASCAR Eyes O'Reilly Series Car Future

NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell discussed the Next Gen car and the future of the O'Reilly Series car at Homestead.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Motorsports

A bare stock-car body shell sits on an empty pit-lane apron in bright daylight, with a concrete wall and grandstand edge behind it. — NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell said at Homestead on Friday that the O'Reilly Series car's future is under active discussion with teams as the Next Gen era continues. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell met with the media at Homestead on Friday ahead of Championship Weekend to address the state of the sport. He addressed the Next Gen car, a potential Gen-8 timeline, and the future of the O'Reilly Series car.

Why it matters

The Next Gen car was adopted to bring new owners and manufacturers into the sport, after the prior model had very limited ownership and no new OEMs. The current O'Reilly Series car platform is more than 15 years old, making its future a central question for the series.

The current O'Reilly Series car platform is more than 15 years old. A significant amount of investment has been made into the O'Reilly Series car future over the last two years, though the outcome of those conversations with teams has not been detailed.

The players

Steve O'Donnell

Steve O'Donnell is the CEO of NASCAR, the sanctioning body overseeing the NASCAR Cup Series, O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, and Craftsman Truck Series.

NASCAR

NASCAR is the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, the sanctioning body for the top stock car racing series in the United States.

The details

O'Donnell said teams were car manufacturers before the Next Gen car, and that Dodge has entered the NASCAR Cup Series. NASCAR is working with teams on the O'Reilly Series car future and is conducting conversations with them about that car.

Friday, ahead of Championship Weekend: O'Donnell met with media at Homestead.
Over the last two years: Investment and conversations with teams on the O'Reilly Series car future occurred.

Season Trajectory

The Next Gen car was adopted to replace a prior model that had very limited ownership and no new OEMs, and the O'Reilly Series car discussion extends that platform-renewal logic down the series ladder. Dodge's entry into the NASCAR Cup Series and teams' historical role as car manufacturers frame how the sport's manufacturer base is being rebuilt.

The outcome of the O'Reilly Series car discussions will determine which chassis and platform teams and fans see on track in the coming seasons. Fans following the series should watch for further announcements from NASCAR on the car's future and any timeline for a successor platform.

The takeaway

NASCAR's platform decisions now reach beyond the top series, as the O'Reilly Series car's age makes its future a question the sport must answer. Readers tracking the sport should follow how teams and manufacturers respond as those conversations continue.